Container feeding devices



June 10, 1958 J. w. RoUsE CONTAINER FEEDING DEVICES Fiied Jan. 24, 19565 Sheets-Sheet 1 g., i l

INVENTOR.

JOHN W. ROUSE BY ,QM a m ATTORNEYS June 10, 1958 J. w. ROUSE 2,838,160

CONTAINER FEEDING DEVICES 7 Filed Jan. 24, 1956 5 SheetsSheet 2INVENTOR.

JOHN W. ROUSE BY M M61 W42? was ATTORNEYS June 10, 1958 J W,RQUSE2,838,160

CONTAINER FEEDING DEVICES Filed Jan. 24, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V ENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Uni S ates Patent 2,838,160 CONTAINER FEEDING DEVICES John W.Rouse, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey 1 N 7 Application January 24, 1956,Serial No. 561,002

9 Claims. (Cl. 198-31) The present invention relates tocan runwayshaving divider units for dividing a single line of cans into a pluralityof lines and has particular reference to magnetic devices forcontrolling the flow. of the cans through the divider units.

. An object of the instant invention is the provision in a can runwayhaving a divider unit, of magnetic control devices which operate quicklyand smoothly so as to prope'rly divide cans traveling at high speeds,without interruption in the flow of the cans.

Another object is the provision of such devices which are simple inconstruction and less expensive to build and maintain than dividers nowin use.

' Another object is the provision of such devices in which jams of canshave been entirely eliminated with a resultant saving in productiontime.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a can runway and divider unit embodying theinstant invention, with parts broken away; 7

Figs. 2, 3, 4, are enlarged sectional views taken sub stantially alongthe respective lines 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 in Fig. 1;

' Fig.6 is a wiring diagram of the electric apparatus used in thedevices; and 1 Figs. 7 and 8 are schematic side views of the devicesillustrating difierentcan flow conditions.

As .a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention thedrawings illustrate a portion of a runway system along which sheet metalcylindrical cans or-containers A roll on their sides at high speed in asingle line procession from a previous operation can making machine, andare divided into two separate single line processions for continuedtravel into two subsequent operation can'making machines. This is ausual can making procedure. The runway system preferably'is disposed ina declining position .so as to facilitate rolling of the canstherethrough by gravitational forces.

In the single line procession the cans A roll along an 2 irons so thatthe side walls 27 and the bottom wall 26 form ,a smooth but steeplysloping continuation of the runway 21. At the exit end of the housing 25(at the right as viewed in Fig. l), the side walls 27 are con siderablyhigher than the entrance end and are connected to two vertically spacedor upper and lower continuing parallel outlet runways 31, 32.

The upper and lower outlet runways 31, 32, are similar to the inletrunway 21 and preferably comprise pairs of spaced and parallel angleirons 33, 34 respectively (see also Fig. 4) to receive, support andguide the divided cans A along two separate single line processions tothe subsequent operation can making machines. Top guide rails 35, 36retain the cans in the runways.

The upper outlet runway 31 preferably is located in endwise, spacedalignment with the inlet runway 21 and constitutes a spaced continuationof the inlet runway 21, the ends of the angle irons 33 of the upperoutlet runway 31 being connected to the upright side walls 27 of thedivider housing 25. The lower outlet runway 32 is located adjacent thebottom of the divider housing 25 and has the ends of its angle irons 34connected to the housing bottom wall 26 and its sidewalls 27 so thatcans rolling down the sloping bottom wall 26 can roll directly into thelower outlet runway 32.

The flow of cans through the inlet runway 21 is maintained at a ratesubstantially equal to the rate at which the two subsequent operationmachines can receive them. Accordingly the two outlet runways 31, 32 aremaintained substantially filled with cans so as to provide a constantsupply of cans to the subsequent operation machines.

Under normal operating conditicns, cans A rolling along the inlet runway21, enter the divider unit housing 25 and roll down the sloping bottomwall 26 into the lower outlet runway 32 as shown in Fig. 1, whichdirects them to one of the subsequent operation machines hereinbeforementioned. When this lower outlet runway 32 becomes filled with cans,the divider unit 24 operates to cut off the flow of cans to thelower'outlet runway 32 and to feed them into the upper outlet runway 31as shown in Fig. 7. This transfer of the feeding of the cans from oneoutlet runway to the other is effected by runway control devices 41, 42(Fig. 1) which are located in the respective runways 31, 32 forcontrolling the divider unit 24.

The divider unit 24 includes an endless, preferably nonmetallic transferbelt 45 (Figs. 1, 4, 7 and 8) which extends across the upper portion ofthe housing 25, from the discharge end of the inlet runway 21 to theentrance end of the upper outlet runway 31 and slightly overlappingthese runways. The lower run of the belt 45 preferably is flush with theunder faces of the inlet and outlet runway top rails 23, 35. Thetransfer belt operates over a pair of spaced pulleys 46, 47 disposedadjacent the ends of the inlet and upper outlet runways 21, 31,respectively, and are mounted in brackets 48, 49 which extend up fromthe respective runways. Pulley 47 preferably is a driving pulley and isrotated by an electric motor 51 which is connected to the pulley. Themotor 51 preferably is maintained in. continuous operation so as orhousing 25 having, a steeply sloping bottom wall 26 (Figs. .1. and 4)andspaced and parallel upright side walls 27. At the entrance or inletend of the housing 25 (the left as viewed in Fig. 1) the side walls 27,are of a lieightslightly gre'ater' than the angle irons 22 of the.

funwayzl and are connected to the ends of the angle permanent magnets 54(Figs. 1 and 5) disposed in endto-end relation. These magnets 53, 54collectively extend substantially the full length of the lower run ofthe transfer belt 45 and are closely adjacent this run of the the belt.The permanent magnets 54 are located adjacent the upper outlet runway31. The electromagnets 2,838,160 Patented June 10, 8

53 are located adjacent the inlet runway 21. These electromagnet's 53preferably comprise a pair of longitudinally extending pole pieces 56,57 (Fig. 3) disposed on opposite sides of a pair of coils 58 spacedalong the pole pieces (see Fig. l). The electromagnets 53 are normallydeenergized and are controlled by the outlet runway control devices 41,42 as will be hereinafter expl'ai'ned.

The control devices 41, 42 preferably are of the character of thosedisclosed in United States Patent 1,806,879

issued May 26, 1931 to H. W. Lindgren on Runway Switch and ControlTherefor, and briefly comprise actuating rods 61 which extendlongitudinally in the outlet runways 31, 32 between their respectiveangle irons 33, 34. One end of each rod 61 is anchored and disposedbelow the path or travel of the cans A through the runways. The oppositeend of each rod 61 extends up into the path of travel of the cans and isconnected by a link 62 to one end of a pivotally mounted and weightedbalance beam 63. One of the balance beams 61 is connected to andactuates an electric switch 64 While the other is connected to andactuates a switch 65. The switch 65 in the lower outlet runway iselectrically connected to the coils 58 of the electromagnets 53 and isnormally open. The switch 64 in the upper outlet runway 31 is a doublepole switch and is normally closed against a pole 66 (see Fig. 6).

in operation, cans A entering either of the outlet runways 31, 32 rollover the actuating rods 61 without affecting them. However when therunway becomes filled and the cans back up over the actuating rods 61,and remain stationary on them, the weight of the cans is sufficient todepress the unanchored ends of the rods and this causes their balancebeams 63 to rock 011 their pivots and hence close their controlswitches.

Thus when cans A back up in the lower outlet runway 32 they depress itsrod 61 and close its control switch 65 and this, through suitableelectric circuits shown in Fig. 6 energizes the electromagnets 53. Thisenergization of the electromagnets 53 causes the cans A from the inletrunway 21 to be attracted to the magnets and thereby are withheld fromentering the lower outlet runway 32. This cuts off cans from the loweroutlet runway. The cans clinging to the electrcmagnets 53 are propelledby the transfer belt 45 along a suspended path of travel through thedivider housing 25, onto and along the permanent magnets 54 and aredelivered into the upper outlet runway 31 as shown in Fig. 7.

The electric circuits involved in energizing the coils 58 of theelectromagnets 53 are shown in Fig. 6 and are supplied with electriccurrent from any suitable source of such current such as a generator 67having direct lead wires 63, 69. The motor 51 is directly connected bywires 6%, 76 to the lead wires 6%, 69 to insure continuous operation ofthe motor. When the runway control switch 65 is closed as mentionedabove, electric current from the generator 67 (see Fig. 6) flows alongwire 69, a connecting wire 71 closed switch 65, a connecting wire 72, arelay solenoid 73, a wire 74, contact 66, switch 64, a connecting wire75, and wire 68, back to the generator. The current flowing through thiscircuit energizes the relay solenoid 73 and this in turn closes twonormally open relay switches, called a holding switch.

76 and a coil switch 77.

Closing of the holding switch 76 establishesa new ircuit from wire '72,through the solenoid 73, a con necting wire 7%, closed holding switch76, a wire 81, to wire '75, thus by-passing the switch 64 in the upperoutlet runway 31. Closing of the coil switch 77 establishes a directcurrent circuit between the coils 58 and a rectifier 83 connected to thelead wires 68, 69 of the generator 67. With the coil switch 77 closed,current from the rectifier flows along a wire 84, a connecting wire 85,closed switch a wire 36, coils 53 and a wire 87 re 11, turning to therectifier 83. This current energizes the coils and causes the transferof the cans A from the 4 inlet runway 21 to the upper outlet runway 31as hereinbefore explained. A

Under certain conditions, as when for any reason, the cans A back upinto both of the outlet runways 31, 32 as shown in Pig. 8, the controlswitch 64 in the upper outlet runway 31 is actuated through depressionof its actuating rod 61 by the cans backed up in this runway and thiseffects a stoppage of the flow of cans from the inlet runway 21 (seeFig. 8). For this purpose the inlet runway 21, above and adjacent itsstop rail 23, is provided with an elongated electromagnet 91 (Figs. 1and 2) having a pair of spaced and parallel pole pieces 92, 93connecting to opposite ends of a pair of coils 94 which are normallydeenergized.

The coils 94 are connected into the rectifier circuit in Fig. 6 and arecontrolled by the upper outlet runway switch 64. When this switch 64closes against a contact 96 (Fig. 6) as when both outlet runways 31, 32are filled with cans, a circuit from w'ire 72 is established whichcauses electric current to flow along a connecting wire 97, through arelay solenoid 98, a connecting wire 99, to the contact 96, switch 64,wires and '68 returning to the generator. This flow of current energizesthe relay solenoid 28 and this closes a normally open relay switch 1431in the rectifier circuit. Current then flows from the rectifier 83,along wire 84, closed switch 101, a connecting wire 102, coils 94 andthe wire 87 returning to the rectifier. This current energizes thecoils94, and through the pole pieces M, 93 energizes the electromagnet 91 andthereby attracts the cans A in the inlet runway 21, to them. The coils94 are of such magnetic strength as to stop the cans A in the inletrunway 21 near its discharge end, from further rolling and thereby actsas a brake on the cans, holding them at a standstill and therebypreventing their discharge into the divider unit 24 as shown in Fig. 8.The ele'ctro magnet 91 is thus a brake magnet. v p

When the cans in either of the outlet runways 31, 32 start rolling aftersuch a stoppage and move beyond the control actuating rods 61, the brakemagnet 91 is deenergized and the cans from the inlet runway 21 arepermitted to roll into one or the other of the outlet runways. If theupper outlet runway 31 empties first, its control switch 64 moves awayfrom contact 96 (Fig. 6) and closes against its contact 66. Thisdeenergizes the brake relay solenoid 98 and opens the relay switch 191with the result that the brake coils 94 are deenerg'ized. Cans will thenroll from the inlet runway 21 into the upper outlet runway 31 asexplained above.

If the lower outlet runway 32 empties first or even simultaneously withthe upper outlet runway 31; the control actuating rod 61 in the lowerrunway opens its switch 65 and all the circuits are broken, thuspermitting cans to roll from the inlet runway 21 into the lower outletrunway 32.

Thus the divider unit 24, through its continuously operating transferbelt 45, audits energizable electromagnet 53 divides or switches theflow of the cans from the inlet runway 21 into one or the other of theoutlet runways 31, 32 as they are needed, in accordance with theoperation of the outlet runway control devices 41, 42 and when bothoutlet runways are filled, applies a braking action on the cans in theinlet runway 21 to prevent flow of cans into the divider unit untilneeded. The permanent magnets 54 serve to guide the cans into the upperoutlet runway 31 as they enter this runway and to support excess canswhich are disposed outside of the runway but at the entrance to therunway at the time a change of delivery of cans from the upper to thelower runway takes place.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attend ant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will, beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merel a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a can runway system, the combination of an inlet runway, a pair ofoutlet runways disposed in vertically spaced relation to each otheradjacent said inlet runway, a divider housing connecting said inletrunway with the lowermost of said outlet runways for the passage of cansfrom said inlet runway into said lowermost outlet runway, magnetic meansdisposed between said inlet runway and the uppermost of said outletrunways for directing cans along a path from said inlet runway into saiduppermost outlet runway, said magnetic means comprising anelectromagnetic section having pole pieces extending from said inletrunway longitudinally along a portion of the upper side of said path ofthe cans leading toward the uppermost of said outlet runways and apermanent magnetic section extending longitudinally from saidelectromagnetic section and along the remainder of said upper side ofsaid path of the cans to said uppermost outlet runway, and meanspartially located within said lowermost outlet runway and connected withsaid magnetic means and operable by an accumulation of cans in saidlowermost outlet runway to energize and thus render said electromagneticsection eifective on cans entering said divider housing from said inletrunway to divert such cans away from said lowermost outlet runway andonto said permanent magnetic section which serves to guide said cans tosaid uppermost outlet runway and to support excess cans disposed betweensaid electromagnetic section and the entrance to said uppermost outletrunway when the latter is filled and said electromagnetic section isdeenergized.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said runways are disposedin a declining position to efiect rolling of said cans through saidrunways.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said magnetic means is anelectromagnet.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 in which there is providedconveyor means disposed adjacent said magnetic means for propelling thecans into said uppermost outlet runway.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 in which said conveyor means is anendless belt and in which there is provided means for actuating saidbelt.

6. The combination defined in claim 4 in which said conveyor means isactuated continuously.

7. In a can runway system, the combination of an inlet runway, magneticbrake means in said inlet runway for holding said cans against dischargetherefrom, a pair of outlet runways disposed in vertically spacedrelation to each other adjacent said inlet runway, a divider housingconnecting said inlet runway with the lowermost of said outlet runwaysfor the passage of cans from said inlet runway into said lowermostoutlet runway, magnetic means disposed between said inlet runway and theuppermost of said outlet runways for directing cans from said inletrunway into said uppermost outlet runway, means partially located withinsaid lowermost outlet runway and connected with said magnetic means andoperable by an accumulation of cans in said lowermost outlet runway torender said magnetic means effective on cans entering said dividerhousing from said inlet runway to divert such cans away from saidlowermost outlet runway and into said uppermost outlet runway, and meanspartially located within said uppermost outlet runway and connected withsaid brake means and operable by an accumulation of cans in saiduppermost outlet runway to render said brake means efiective to holdsaid cans in said inlet runway when said uppermost outlet runway isfilled.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said magnetic brake meansis an electromagnet disposed adjacent the path of travel of said cansthrough said inlet runway.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein there is provided meanspartially located within each of said outlet runways and connected withsaid brake means and operable by an accumulation of cans in both of saidoutlet runways to render said brake means eflective to hold said cans insaid inlet runway when said outlet runways are filled.

Cummings et al. Dec. 1, 1942 Nordquist Apr. 24, 1956

